Is Lesotho about to Invade South Africa?

Описание: South Africa is not about to be invaded by Lesotho, at least not in any conventional sense, but the headlines are real and the drama is unfolding with all the flair of a low budget political thriller. A fringe group calling itself Malata Naha (“Land Reclaimers”) has reportedly been conducting military style drills on South African farms, claiming ancestral rights to swaths of land across five provinces. The movement is spearheaded by Lesotho MP Dr. Tshepo Lipholo, who is currently out on bail for sedition and incitement, and whose self declared title as “paramount chief of Basotholand” sounds more like cosplay than constitutional authority. While Lesotho’s government has distanced itself from the group, its police commissioner insists the threat is credible. Meanwhile, South Africa’s own defence force, crippled by budget cuts, broken equipment and bureaucratic inertia, looks ill prepared to respond to anything more serious than a strongly worded tweet. So while the idea of Lesotho reclaiming half the country may be laughable, the deeper concern lies in our own vulnerability, a military so hollowed out it might not notice an invasion until it is trending on TikTok.

Origin article: https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2025-...